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18 November/Thursday/ Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul, Apostles

Acts 28,11-16.30-31/Psa 98,1.2-3ab.3c-4.5-6/Matt 14,22-23

By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD

There is no choice between ferial and memorial readings today, because all readings are proper to the memorial.

First Reading    Acts 28:11-16,30-31

So we came to Rome

At the end of three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island; she came from Alexandria and her figurehead was the Twins. We put in at Syracuse and spent three days there; from there we followed the coast up to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up and on the second day we made Puteoli, where we found some brothers and were much rewarded by staying a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

When the brothers there heard of our arrival they came to meet us, as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.

Responsorial Psalm    Psalm 97(98):1-6

The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Sing a new song to the Lord

    for he has worked wonders.

His right hand and his holy arm

    have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;

    has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love

    for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

    the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,

    ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp

    with the sound of music.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

    acclaim the King, the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation    cf. Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel   Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus walks on the water

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

Reflection

The two readings today speak about the two great personalities of Christianity in New Testament times. The First Reading gives an account of the arrival of Paul in Rome. Paul came to Rome as a prisoner because in his trial in Israel, he appealed to Caesar, using his right as a Roman citizen. The reading speaks of his meeting with some members of the Christian community in Rome. The presence of these brothers gave Paul courage to face his condition of a prisoner. He knew he was not going to be alone in the city. It was an opportunity for him to meet the Roman community and explain his position about the Christian faith to them. The arrival of Paul in Rome also marked the last stage of his earthly life. He would be beheaded later in this city and a basilica built over his grave just outside the city walls.

On the day we celebrate the dedication of the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls, we also celebrate the dedication of the basilica that bears the name of Peter. The Gospel Reading focuses on Peter using the episode of his attempt to walk on the lake. At the request of Peter, Jesus told him to come to him on the waters but out of fright Peter started sinking. Jesus remarked that he was of little faith, thus his failure to walk on the water. The experience of Peter reflects what happens to us in moments of difficulties and doubts. We also begin to sink if we do not have faith and if we are not able to cling to the Lord. We should all learn to have faith in God at all times but we know it is not easy for us to do so all by ourselves. We have the example of Paul who knew he was heading to his death but his faith in God make him take courage to make the journey to Rome. Paul’s faith in the Lord did not waver in the face of difficulties. The presence of some members of the community who came to meet him on his arrival was a source of encouragement. Both Peter and Paul teach us the need to have faith in God. If we have faith, we would be able to withstand all difficulties or challenges and embrace hardships for the greater glory of God.

17 November/Wednesday/33rd Week in Ordinary Time,    

2Macc 7,1.20-31/Psa 17,1.5-6.8.15/Luke 19,11-28

By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD

First Reading  2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31

The creator of the world will give you back both breath and life

There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. But the mother was especially admirable and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb; it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.’

Antiochus thought he was being ridiculed, suspecting insult in the tone of her voice; and as the youngest was still alive he appealed to him not with mere words but with promises on oath to make him both rich and happy if he would abandon the traditions of his ancestors; he would make him his Friend and entrust him with public office. The young man took no notice at all, and so the king then appealed to the mother, urging her to advise the youth to save his life. After a great deal of urging on his part she agreed to try persuasion on her son. Bending over him, she fooled the cruel tyrant with these words, uttered in the language of their ancestors, ‘My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine months in my womb and suckled you three years, fed you and reared you to the age you are now (and cherished you). I implore you, my child, observe heaven and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers’ company.’

She had scarcely ended when the young man said, ‘What are you all waiting for? I will not comply with the king’s ordinance; I obey the ordinance of the Law given to our ancestors through Moses. As for you, sir, who have contrived every kind of evil against the Hebrews, you will certainly not escape the hands of God.’

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16(17):1,5-6,8,15

I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.

Lord, hear a cause that is just,

    pay heed to my cry.

Turn your ear to my prayer:

    no deceit is on my lips.

I kept my feet firmly in your paths;

    there was no faltering in my steps.

I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.

    Turn your ear to me; hear my words.

Guard me as the apple of your eye.

    Hide me in the shadow of your wings

As for me, in my justice I shall see your face

    and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.

Gospel Acclamation  1John 2:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,

God’s love comes to perfection in him.

Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 19:11-28

The parable of the talents

While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly, he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterward return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”

‘Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

‘“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’ When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Reflection

The courage of the seven brothers in facing death as narrated in the First Reading is an example of true witness to faith. These Jewish men were not ready to taste pork because Jews were forbidden to eat any meat considered unclean. Pigs were considered unclean in Jewish culture so these men wanted to remain faithful to their religious prohibitions. Anthiocus Epiphanes IV was resolute in his plan to introduce pagan worship and practices among the Jews. This was his way of integrating the Jews into the Greek culture of the time.

The courage of the mother of the seven brothers reveals her deep religious conviction that the fruits of her womb were a gift from God. She was convinced that it was more important for the children to remain faithful to the religious precepts of the fathers rather than betray their religion for her sake. She was convinced that the children would receive an eternal reward from God to whom they have been faithful. The words of exhortation to the youngest of the sons reveal her readiness to see all her sons murdered by Anthiochus Epiphanes IV rather than any of them yielding to the pressures of the king to eat pork.

The religious faith exhibited by both mother and children makes them stand out as models for us to follow today. We may not face persecution in the same degree as these young men did but we are called to remain faithful to our religious precepts in the face of persecution. It is common place that some Christians do not want to witness to their faith publicly so they are ready to go with the crowd and condone evil or engage in practices that are unbecoming of Christians. The attitude of compatriots of the noble man in the Gospel Reading is one of hostility which cannot be recommended. We need courageous men and women who despite all odds will accomplish great things with whatever is entrusted to them. Our society today still needs courageous people like the seven brothers and their mother who would stand for their faith in the face of persecution. Such people raise our consciousness and challenge us to be true Christians, especially when we face persecution.

16 November/Tuesday/33rd Week in Ordinary Time,    

2Macc 6,18-31/Psa 3,2-3.4-5.6-8/Luke 19,1-10

By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD

First Reading  2 Maccabees 6:18-31

'I will make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the holy laws'

Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the Law, a man already advanced in years and of most noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth wide to swallow pig’s flesh. But he, resolving to die with honour rather than to live disgraced, went to the block of his own accord, spitting the stuff out, the plain duty of anyone with the courage to reject what it is not lawful to taste, even from a natural tenderness for his own life. Those in charge of the impious banquet, because of their long-standing friendship with him, took him aside and privately urged him to have meat brought of a kind he could properly use, prepared by himself, and only pretend to eat the portions of sacrificial meat as prescribed by the king; this action would enable him to escape death, by availing himself of an act of kindness prompted by their long friendship. But having taken a noble decision worthy of his years and the dignity of his great age and the well-earned distinction of his grey hairs, worthy too of his impeccable conduct from boyhood, and above all of the holy legislation established by God himself, he publicly stated his convictions, telling them to send him at once to Hades. ‘Such pretence’ he said ‘does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and because I had played this part for the sake of a paltry brief spell of life might themselves be led astray on my account; I should only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. Even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty. Therefore if I am man enough to quit this life here and now I shall prove myself worthy of my old age, and I shall have left the young a noble example of how to make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the venerable and holy laws.’

With these words he went straight to the block. His escorts, so recently well disposed towards him, turned against him after this declaration, which they regarded as sheer madness. Just before he died under the blows, he groaned aloud and said, ‘The Lord whose knowledge is holy sees clearly that, though I might have escaped death, whatever agonies of body I now endure under this bludgeoning, in my soul I am glad to suffer, because of the awe which he inspires in me.’

This was how he died, leaving his death as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the great majority of the nation.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 3:2-7

The Lord upholds me.

How many are my foes, O Lord!

    How many are rising up against me!

How many are saying about me:

    ‘There is no help for him in God.’

But you, Lord, are a shield about me,

    my glory, who lift up my head.

I cry aloud to the Lord.

    He answers from his holy mountain.

I lie down to rest and I sleep.

    I wake, for the Lord upholds me.

I will not fear even thousands of people

    who are ranged on every side against me.

Gospel Acclamation cf. Psa 129:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

My soul is waiting for the Lord,

I count on his word.

Alleluia!

Gospel  Luke 19:1-10

Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

Reflection

The First Reading narrates the martyrdom of Eleazar, one of the leading Jews at the time of the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His martyrdom came about because of his refusal to eat pork that was offered in pagan sacrifice. Eleazar refused to eat pork because he did not want to violate the law of God which declared the pig an unclean animal (L2v 11,7; Deut 14,8). Eleazar was also not ready to accept the suggestion of the Hellenized Jews to pretend to be eating pork so that he can save his life. For Eleazar, the greatest value is not to save his present life but to maintain his moral and religious integrity. Accepting to eat pork would have meant that he was giving up the religion of the fathers. He considered it a great betrayal that he should not indulge in such an act at his advanced age. He also did not want to lose his moral reputation by deceiving the faithful Jews that he was eating pork. That would have demoralised them and forced them also to give up the practices of the ancestors.

Eleazar stands before us as a model of religious integrity. He valued his faith more than his personal life. He was convinced that life was worthless if it was not lived in close relationship with God. He was convinced that a worthy life is one that gives true and worthy testimony to others. He was not ready in any way to trade his integrity for cheap favours. He was convinced that serving or worshipping God even if it meant death was of a greater value for humanity than any earthly pleasures.

In our world today, there are many people who seek to turn Christians away from the right path. There are people who promote non-Christian practices like abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia, etc. They seek to convince Christians to embrace these practices because they are convinced that once some Christians practice them, others would think they are acceptable and follow suit. The example of Eleazar teaches us to remain faithful to the true teaching we have received. We should look at the final glory with Christ, instead of earthly pleasures. If we discover that we are on the wrong path, we should be bold like Zacchaeus in the Gospel Reading and seek communion with the Lord. We pray for the courage to stand up to defend our faith so that the world would believe that we are Christians.